SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has lauded the recent pronouncements of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on the provision of agri-enterprise assistance to beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, which seeks to accelerate countryside socioeconomic development.
“I would like to thank the Department of Agriculture’s steadfast support to the BP2 program like the provision of agri-enterprise assistance to its intended beneficiaries. The DA’s support would prove to be a big help not only for the program but also in our food sufficiency drive,” the senator said in Filipino.
Go pointed out that agriculture is one key area that must be utilized to provide livelihood opportunities for BP2 beneficiaries and increase agricultural productivity to ensure food security throughout the country, “especially these days when our economy has been affected by the pandemic that have to go ‘back to basics,’ and we now begin to appreciate the true value of agriculture in our livelihood.”
He added: “We could bring back the vibrancy of our economy if we focus on agricultural growth in the regions.”
DA has vowed to support the implementation of the B2P program as it will not only decongest Metro Manila, but will also facilitate equitable regional development, distribution of wealth, resources and job opportunities in the countryside.
As a form of support, DA has allotted agri-enterprise assistance for the beneficiaries of the BP2 program in the event they decide they want to venture in agriculture. Dar added that they are also providing starter kits for those who would like to cultivate their own backyard vegetable gardens to support the agency’s objective of ensuring food security for all Filipinos.
The agency is also encouraging overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to venture into agri-preneurship. According to news reports, DA has allotted at least P2.5 billion for three of its loan programs to support the revival and reboot of the country’s agriculture industry.
“We are opening our doors to OFWs to join the ranks of our new breed of agri-preneurs who will help us revive and reboot the countryside and, at the same time, support the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program,” Dar said, adding that the loan programs are accessible through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
These loan programs include the Expanded SURE-Aid and Recovery Project or SURE COVID-19, Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs and the Agri-Negosyo.
The agri chief further mentioned that free technical trainings from the Agricultural Training Institute are also available for OFWs.
Expressing his gratitude to Go for proposing the BP2 program, Dar said, “We commend Senator Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go for spearheading the BP2 program as it realizes our vision of a modern and industrialized Philippine agriculture sector.”
“Hence, on behalf of the entire DA family we extend our full support to the BP2 program as a national master plan to decongest Metro Manila and pump-prime the country’s agriculture, fishery, agribusiness, food processing, and logistics sector,” the DA chief added.
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